Distilling apparatus.



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No. 879,236. PATBNTED FEB. 18, 1908. W. H. BARTHOLOMEW.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 3, 1906.

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No. 879,236. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908. Wt H. BARTHOLOMEW.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB a, 190e 7 SHEETS-SHEET s.

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DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1906.

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No. 879,236. PATENTBD FEB. 18, 1908. W. H. BARTHOLOMEW.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1906.

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QR) i lfm conc a W. H. BARTHOLOMBW. DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 3, 1908.

PATBNTBD FEB. 18, 1908.

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MoMA/kot M No. 879,236. PATENTED PEB. 18, 1908.

W. H. BARTHOLOMEW. I

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 3, 190B."

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER HIBARTHOLOMEW, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES B. HILL, TRUSTEE, OF MONTGOMERY, NEW YORK.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

specification of Letten Patent.'

Patented Feb. is, 190e.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. BARTHQLO- MEW, of East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and.useful Im rovements in DistillimT Apparatus, of whic the following is a ful clear, and exact specification, reference being had-to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectional view, of the entire apparatus. i0. 2 is an artly sectional view, ofs the condensers. ig. 3 is an elevation', partly sectional view, of the evaporator and lts accessories. apparatus for the eva orator. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views. ig. 8 is an elevation of the entire apparatus, showing an outside view thereof.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for distilling water and consists of the hereinafter descrlbed apparatus embodying improvement-s in construction and suc combinations of the parts whereby an apparatus is obtained which is self-contained, absolutely automatic, and very economical in its operation.

My improved water distilling apparatus comprises a steam boiler, an evaporator for the water to be distilled, one or more condensers, a connection with a water supply and the intermediate connections and accessories as hereinafter more fully described, all parts bein arranged substantially as shown in the cglrawings. The steam boiler A is preferably of the vertical type of tubular boiler, though any other type of boiler may be used. At one side of the boiler the receptacle B for feed water to the boiler is set up, and connected with it by pipe a. The feed water receptacle B must be provided with an overflow, because the uantity of water overflowing from the condensers, from which it receives its supply of feed water for the boiler, approximates about four times the uantity of water required for the feeding of t e boiler, the consumption of the water for the boiler being only slightly in excess of the uantity of distilledgwater produced, Whereas aie consumption of water for cooling the condensers is not less than four times the uantity of the water distilled. The water 1s fed from the receptacle B into the boiler under pressure by an injector or pump.

The evaporator C is preferably a cylin- Fg. 4 is a sectional view of the feeding" drical vessel in the shape of a boiler hav' a steam dome D superimposed thereon alrll a suitable capacity for responding to the intended use and required capacity of the apparatus. Its bottom is preferably made slanting toward its center, where the outlet pipe g 1s set, to enable the evaporator to be emptied when cleaning or repairs are necessary. The outlet pipe g is prov ded with a stopcock q and with means of aflixin thereto a flexible hose, if necessary. In te interior of the evaporator a coil c is arranged some distance above the bottom thereof and so that the upper layer of the coil is approximately on the level of the water within the evaporator. The upper end of this coil is connected by pipes d, d, d, with the steam boiler A and a valve d3 is provided in suitable position in this connection. tubular type is used wherein the water circulates in tubes, the pipe d2 may connect with `the terminal of the tubes or steam chamber of the boiler.

v The lower end of coil c connects by a bend cand pi e f with steam tra E, the termini of both liemg secured by anges e to the shell of the evaporator. Steam trap E, which may be of any suitable construction, is connected by pipes g, g and g2 with the feed water receptacle F, which latter is in turn connected by pipe h with the interior of the evaporator C. The steam trap, employed in the apparatus, is shown 1n the sectional views in igs. 1 and 3. The pot 1, closed by cover 1, is` divided into two chambers, the chamber designated 2 in the drawing, being separated from the remaining portion of the pot by fiange 2, extending rom the upper rim of the pot to Within a short distance of 'the bottom. The space between the lower edge of flange 2a and the bottom of the pot 1 affords means of communication between the two chambers. A third chamber, designated 3 in the drawings, is formed by suitably shaping a part of the upper portion of the pot and the adjoining portion of the cover. This chamber 3 communicates with the interior of the pot 1 by ipe 4 tapped and screwed in the bottom of c amber 3 and terminating some distance above the bottom of the pot 1. In the upper end of pipe 4, a valve 5 is fitted, connected by stem 6, to lever 7, fulcrumed in a lug secured to, or made integral with, the pipe 4. The other end of lever 7 is con- If a boiler of the 20 pot, gra ually condensing there.

nected to a float 8. Pipe f, connecting with the lower end of the coil c, is tapped into chamber 2, and pipe g, connecting with the feed water apparatus, is tapped into chamber .543. The dimensions of the steam trap must be roportioned to the size of the apparatus, and) the float 8 should have at least sufficient buoyancy to overcome, at all times, the pressure of the water upon valve 5, tending to 10 keep the valve closed when the apparatus is in action.

The operation of the trap, to keep steam in the coil c and to force the water, resulting from condensation in the steam, through pipes g, g and g2 and into the feed water reaches a level above the lower edge lof the flange 2a, the chamber 2 is separated from the interior of the pot, as far as steam communication is concerned, and .then only water condensed from the steam in coil c will flow into the trap. When the level of the water in the tra rises above the line, set for maintaining valve 5 in closed position, the float y8, driven b its buoyancy, will swing lever 7 on its lcrum, and thereby withdraw' valve 5 from its seat, thus admitting the water from the steam trap into the chamber 3. The flow of this water is forced in by the pressure of the steam in coil c. When, by thus forcing the water through pipe 4 into chamber 3, the level thereof is reduced in the steam trap, float 8 sinks, the valve 5 is closed by the pressure of the water upon it,`the inflow of water into chamber 3 ceases until again a sufficient quantity of water has accumulated in the trap to raise float 8 to open valve 5 when the forcing of water into pipe g is repeated. This will occur a few times at the starting of the apparatus until the circulation is com leted,

whereupon the action of the trap wil produce a continuous flow of the water as it condenses through the steam tra into pipe g, g and g2, and through the fneed apparatus into the evaporator C. The static pressure of the column of water in pipe g, upon valve 5, is not sufficient to overcome the pressure of the steam upon the water in the steam trap. The evaporator C may also be provided with an inlet for charging it with water at the beginning of the distilling operation. In my improved apparatus I effect this by connecting the pipe g (by ipe ww) to the pipe w w su plymg the coo 'ng water to the jackets of t e condensers; pipe w lw is then provided with suitable stopcock, as

shown lin the drawing. The position of steam coil c, at or near the level of the water in evaporator C and the arran ement of the connection of live steam supp y piped with the uppermost layer of the coil is devised to secure the most economical utilization of the steam for evaporating a proportionately large quantity of water. The construction of this feed ap aratus F is 'shown more in detail in the e arged sectional view in Fig. 4.' It com rises .a cylindrical vessel i with a float y' lbosely fitted in and corresponding in `shape with the outer vessel t'. To secure a smooth workin of the float and to prevent its coming into 'ctional contact with the interior walls of the vessel i, the float is rovided with stem j assing he size through t e centers of spiders i2.

of the float is calculate to give it suflicient buoyancy to perform the functions for which'it is employed, as will be explained further on.

The float y' carries on its upper end a spherical valve k, preferably set u on a stem c,

as shown in the drawing. T is stem is eX- tended through the pipe g2 into the valve chamberl and is there connected to one arm `of the bell crank lever m fulcrumed on lug n, integral with, or secured to, the casting composing the valve chamber Z. The valve chamber l is open at o, a suitable valve seat being provided there and a flange for connecting thereto the outlet 4pipe In this valve seat another spherical valve p is located, set on stem p projecting into pipe g3, where it is guided by being passed through the centers of s iders r. Stem p3, projecting into the va ve chamber Z and suitably connected to the other arm of bell crank lever m, transmits the motions of float j to valve p. The connections of the valves c and p with the arms of the bell crank lever m are adjustable and are'so setthat both valves are loperated simultaneously by the action of the float that is to'say, when the float j rises, valve is`moved-into its seat to close the inflow into receptacle F from pipe g2 and simultaneously valve p is moved from its seat to open outlet o from the valve chamber. Float j is sufficiently heavy to effect, by its own weight, the opening of valve k and the closing of the valve when the supply of feed water in receptacle sinks below its requisite level.

The normal position of the float j in the vessel i is determined to correspond with the level of the water in evaporator C as may be required. Though the pressure of the vaors in the evaporator is quite a negligible factor, it is safer to determine the position of the float in rece tacle F so that valve 7c is not closed before tlie` desired or predetermined level of feed water in evaporator C is reached. When the float y' arises to a position causing valve 7c to close pipe g, the above described mechanism simultaneously opens valve in outlet pipe g. While the float j is in t lis position, the water escapes through pipe g'-. As soon, however, as the supply of the water in the evaporator is reduced, it sinks correspondingly in the receptacle F,

'float j drops down, opens pipe g, closing i will be sufficient .to overcome whatever steam pressure there may be within fthe evaporator (l so as to maintain the 'level of the water within the evaporator slightly (about two inches) above the level of the uppermost layer of the steam coil. The levels of the water in the eva orator C and receptacle F are approximate y as shown in shaded lines in Fig. l. The level of water in the receptacle F is held somewhat above that in the evaporator C, to overcome the slight pressure of the vaporl therein. Float j should be so set upon the rod y" in position to cause the valve lc to close the ort, when the water in the evaporator C rises to the predetermined level. By these means the supply and consumption of water in the evaporator are constantly balanced, a steady iiow of vapor furnished to the condensers, and all possible waste of live steam or fuel avoided.

'It is desirable to provide a steam filter in the dome D of the evaporator C. Such filter is preferably made up of broken pieces of porous calcined mineral substances--broken clay fire bricks, porcelain, orous sand stone, or of suitable kinds of artificial stone and the like, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The filtering substance 11 is supported upon the perforated screen 12.

O'ne or more steam condensers may be used in my improved apparatus.. It is preferable to use two or more because such greater distribution results in a more rapid condensation of vapors and a more effective elimination of gases and vapors of volatile liquids, as may be contained in the water. It is also preferable to use condensers constructed as set forth in my ap lication for United States Letters Patent, led May 8, 1905, Serial Number 259362, atented Sept. 25, 1906, No. 831,593. It, owever, is not essential. for the attaining of the object of the invention herein set forth to either use two or more condensers, or condensers of the particular construction as set forth in my afore recited application.

In the accompanying drawings two condensers G are shown set up upon a platform over tank or receptacle 1I. Their construction is shown in detai-l in the enlarged sec,-

tional view, Fig. 5. Each of the condensers G consists of a com `arat-'ively long (high) c lindrical vessel s having its upper end e osed by a hood t, )rovided with suitably located apertures u forthe escape of gases and vapors of volatile liquids that may enter the condenser with the vapors of Water. In the base of each condenser G suitable apertures o are provided for admission of atmospheric air into the condenser to .effect the aerating of the water as it is being condensed. A filter y made of suitable material is set upon the perforated screen 13, located in the base of the condenser above the air ports fv as it is very desirable to filter the air entering the condenser and to prevent contamination of the Water by impurities. Some distance above the apertures i. an inwardly deflected flan e w is situated in the interior of the vesse s, forming a funnel shaped inlet into the interior of the condenser and also a receptacle for the distillate as the vapors are condensed. The nozzle of the steam conduit z, connecting the condensers with the dome D of the evaporator, is so located directly underneath the deflected flange w that the flow of the steam into the condenser is directed into the funnel shaped opening. The object of this arrangement is to create suction whereby the air, entering through apertures c, is drawn into the condenser.

One or more defiectors a; are set in the interior of vessel s, above the inlet port of the steam, to divert the flow of the steam in contact with the walls of the vessel s whereby the process of condensation is accelerated. Vessel s is tapped at or slightly above'the bottom of flange w by pi e w, provided with a suitable stopcock and eading into tank H and through which the distilled water is drawn from the condenser and accumulated in the said tank.

Each condenser is inclosed in a watertight jacket s and in this jacket a branch of the cold water conduit w w is tapped. The cooling Water enters the jacket at or near the base of the condenser and supplies a4 steady stream of water for cooling exteriorly the Wall of vessel s. The water jackets s are tapped at or near the bottoms thereof by pipes s s, provided with suitable stopcocks and serving for the discharge from the jackets of accumulations of sediment. These jackets s extend the whole length of vessels s and terminate into suitably shaped heads I,

Apreferably somewhat larger in diameter, and

connected together and to the feed water receptacle B by water conduit tt. This feed water receptacle B is a suitable vessel, provided with anoverflow outlet z z and connect ed by pipe a with a pump or injector L by which the feed water is driven into the boiler A in the manner usually employed in feeding water into steam boilers.

Theprocess of distilling water in my improved a paratus as hereinbefore described 1s carried) on as follows: First, the flow of the water from a tank or pump through pipe lw w is started, the cock in the pipe w 'w' being closed. The water t-hus flows int-o Iackets s Fig. 2 and after they are filled over ows into pipe tt and into the feed water receptacle B and from there into boiler A. Then the fire is started underneath the boiler A. When sufficient ressure of steam is obtained in the boiler, va ve d3 is opened the steam generated in the boiler A is admitted through pipes d2, d and (l into the coil c and pipes c and f. The valve in the ipe w w is then opened and the water from tlie supply pipe w w allowed to flowthrou h pipes g, g and g2 into receptacle F, and rom there through pipe h into evaporator C. When the water reaches the required level in the evaporator C, valve 7C in the receptacle is automatically closed. Then the cock is turned to shut off the flow through pipew wand the operation of the apparatus 1s started. l

The steam in the coil c condenses at about the same ratio as the water is being evaporated in the evaporator C. The water, resulting from this condensation, passes through steam trap E into pipes g, g and q2 and thence into the feed apparatus F by means of which the water in the evaporator C isl steadily maintained at a predetermined level, preferably not more than two inches above the u er layer of coil c. The vapors produce 1n the evaporator C pass through the filter provided in the dome D of the evaporator into the vapor conduit .z andfrom it into the condensers G. The filter eliminates from the va orsl a large pro ortion of impurities.l Wliatever gases an vapors ofvolatile liquids may yet be contained in the lvapors are eliminated in the condensers where the vaors of water are also aerated and condensedr.) The product of this condensation, the pure distilled water, accumulates in the recess formed by flange w, whence it is withdrawn throu h pipe w and conducted into tank H or ot er receptacle.

'If no loss of heat occurred in the evaporator C the quantity of water produced by condensation of steam in the .steam coil c would exactly equal the quantity of water evaporated. As this condition, however, is only theoretical and cannot be obtained in practice, the automatic apparatus for diverting the flow of the products of condensation from coil c into the evaporator C must be provided to maintain the balance if the apparatus is to work automatically. This is also necessary to make the operation of the apparatus as economical. 1n place of such device for governing the supply of feed water conduit connecting the coil Withthe evaporator, means for holding the steam in the coil and for withdrawing only the, condensed water from the coil,` and for feeding it into the evaporator, and means for diverting the excess of the water from the feed water conduit; a condenser, a va or conduit connecting the evaporator wit the condenser, and

means for withdrawing the product of con-y densation from the condenser.

2. An ap aratus for distilling water, comprising a oiler, means for charging the oiler with a supply of water, an evaporator, a feed water receptacle and a conduit connecting it with the evaporator, a steam coil in the evaporator, a conduit connecting the coil with the boiler and a second conduit connecting it with the feed water receptacle for the evaporator, means for feeding the Water from the receptacle into the evaporator and means for maintaining the feed water'in the evaporator at a predetermined level by automatically diverting the flow of the feed water; a condenser, a vapor conduit connecting the evaporator with the condenser, and means for withdrawing the products of condensation from the condenser.- 1,

3. Anapparatus for distilling water, comprising a boiler, an evaporator, afee'd water receptacle and a conduit connecting it lwith the evaporator, a steam coil in the .eva orator, a conduit connecting it with the. oiler and a second conduit connecting it' with the feed water receptacle for the evaporator;-

means for feeding the Water from the receptacle into the evaporator and means for maintaining the feed water in the evaporator at a predetermined level by automatically diverting the flow of the feed water; a condenser, a vapor conduit connecting the evaporator with the condenser and means for withdrawing the products of condensation from the condenser; a Water jacket surrounding the condenser, a water conduit connecting with the jacket andmeans .for su plying Water under pressure to the con uit; a second water conduit, from the water jacket to the boiler, and means for forcingthe water from the conduit into the boiler.

4. An apparatus for distilling water, comprising a boiler, a feed water a paratus and a conduit connecting it with t e boiler; an

evaporator, a feed water receptacle and a conduit connecting it with the evaporator;

a steam 'coil in the evaporator, a conduit connecting it with the boiler and a second conduit connecting it with the feed Water receptacle for the evaporator; means for feeding the water from the receptacle into the evaporator and means for maintaining the fee Water in the evaporator at a predetermined level by automatically diverting the iioW of the feed Water; a condenser, a vapor conduit, connecting the evaporator With the condenser, and means for withdrawing the products of condensation from the condenser; a Water jacket surrounding the condenser, a Water conduit connecting with the jacket and means for supplying Water under pressure to the conduit a second Water conduit, from the Water jacket to the feed Water receptacle for the boiler, and means for forcing the feed water from the receptacle into the boiler. Y

5. An apparatus for feeding the evapora connecting the steam coil with a steam l generator; a second conduit connecting the steam coil with the evaporator, a steam trap, a `valve chamber With an outlet, and

a receptacle, all connected with the second condult, intermediate between the steam coil and the evaporator, a valve in the outlet of the valve chamber and another valve between the valve chamber and the receptacle, a float in the receptacle and means for operatively connecting the loat with the valves.

WALTER H. BARTHOLOMEW.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. POWER, FREDERIC M. VERMILYE. 

